A FIVE-time Olympic medalist has opened Thorpe Hall School’s new £2.4million sports centre.

An open day was held on Saturday to showcase the new facilities in the Seaglass Centre.

The centre includes a fitness suite, dance studio and multiple learning spaces, which are flexible for future use.

In addition to this, the centre will feature a multi-sports hall, where students will be able to take part in a wide variety of sports such as basketball, trampolining, table tennis, indoor tennis and other racket sports. It will also be used for sports competitions.

Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock officially opened the new centre during the open day and guests could then enjoy a tour of the new building. This took place alongside Thorpe Hall’s open day, where activities included experiments in the science lab.

The Seaglass Centre will also be used for extra-curricular activities such as Max’s gymnastics club.

Its design features polycarbonate cladding which changes colour and was inspired by glass that gets washed up along Southend’s shores.

Headteacher, Andrew Hampton said: “What we have in The Seaglass is a state-of-the-art building which will become iconic in the landscape and culture of Southend and south Essex.

“It will be an outstanding multi-use space for the community.”